ANTIGUA, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

In many ways a throwback in time, yet geared to cater to the savvy traveler, our capital city invites the explorer to visit its labyrinth of crisscrossed streets and alleyways. Absorb local color, shop for duty-free goods at Heritage Quay, browse the boutiques at Redcliffe Quay for clothing made from sea cotton. Then, try your luck at King's Casino or sample a West Indian meal from Hemingway's veranda on lower St. Mary's Street overlooking the harbor. Then, jump in a cab, a car, a boat, hop on a bus (hold on!) or rent a bike and head for a day at the beach. Any beach will do! According to local lore 'An-TEE-gah' boasts 365 pristine beaches, all minutes from our bustling capital and offshore financial center of St. John's.

For the most part, St. John's looks like what you'd expect from an island city of commerce. Colorful sun-bleached wooden shops and businesses line the litter-free, narrow streets. Some of the buildings are refurbished and well-kept but most faded and old. Down-at-the-heels businesses are interspersed with newer construction, which is built predominantly with... more